Social Psychology's Contribution to the Psychological Study of Peace

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna K. Vollhardt ◽  
Rezarta Bilali
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Substantial Body ◽  
Peace Research ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Multiple Levels

Abstract. This article examines the overlap between social psychology and the psychological study of peace. We suggest that, within mainstream social psychology, a substantial body of research exists that can be referred to as “social psychological peace research” (SPPR). We present a framework that defines the subject matter and introduces conceptual and methodological criteria, characterizing core research in this area as (1) value-explicit, (2) contextualized, (3) including multiple levels of analysis, and (4) practically oriented. A content analysis of leading social psychology journals identifies the amount and nature of current SPPR. We suggest future directions for an integrated body of research to realize the field's potential to further the understanding and prevention of societal conflict as well as the promotion of positive intergroup relations.

scholarly journals Membership without Social Citizenship? Deservingness & Redistribution as Grounds for Equality

Daedalus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 73-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Bloemraad ◽  
Will Kymlicka ◽  
Michèle Lamont ◽  
Leanne S. Son Hing
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Group Identity ◽  
Cultural Sociology ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Social Citizenship ◽  
Explanatory Framework ◽  
Political Studies ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
National Solidarity

Western societies have experienced a broadening of inclusive membership, whether we consider legal, interpersonal, or cultural membership. Concurrently, we have witnessed increased tensions around social citizenship, notably harsher judgments or boundaries over who “deserves” public assistance. Some have argued these phenomena are linked, with expanded, more diverse membership corroding solidarity and redistribution. We maintain that such a conclusion is premature and, especially, unsatisfactory: it fails to detail the processes–at multiple levels of analysis–behind tensions over membership and social citizenship. This essay draws on normative political theory, social psychology, cultural sociology, and political studies to build a layered explanatory framework that highlights the importance of individual feelings of group identity and threat for people's beliefs and actions; the significance of broader cultural repertoires and notions of national solidarity as a source and product of framing contests; and the diverse ways elites, power, and institutions affect notions of membership and deservingness.

scholarly journals Sixty Years of Language Motivation Research

SAGE Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401770197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali H. Al-Hoorie
Keyword(s):  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Motivation To Learn ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Emerging Themes

This article offers a historical analysis of the major themes that the language motivation field has examined in its 60-year history. The discussion starts by briefly reviewing the social-psychological and the situated–cognitive periods. The former was primarily concerned with affective factors in intergroup relations, while the latter with learners in classroom contexts. The second half of the article surveys a number of emerging themes in the field to highlight major findings and potential future directions. These themes include the dynamic, affective, unconscious, and long-term aspects of motivation to learn English and other languages, as well as the implications of the pervasive presence of technology in daily life.

Going to extremes: Social identity and communication processes associated with gang membership

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 813-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liran Goldman ◽  
Howard Giles ◽  
Michael A. Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Communication Processes ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World

Gang violence, endemic to many communities in the United States and around the world is a very significant social problem. Given that the messages conveyed by, and the rivalries associated with, gang identities readily invoke constructs and processes familiar to the social psychological study of social identity, intergroup relations, and communication (Lauger, 2012), it is surprising that social psychologists have not advanced such an analysis of gangs. In attempt to fill this void and set a research agenda, this theoretical article examines the role social identity and identity-related communication play in promoting affiliation with gangs, particularly among youth who confront uncertainties and strive for family-like protection. The article discusses messaging communicated by gang members and reasons why youth adopt antisocial (e.g., violent) rather than prosocial behaviors. It also explores ways to diminish the allure of gang membership and raises questions for future research.

It takes all types: social psychology, trust, and the international relations paradigm in our minds

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian C. Rathbun
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Structural Realism ◽  
International Relations Theory ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Neoliberal Institutionalism

The insights of social psychology are not thoroughly integrated into international relations theory, yet social psychology has much to offer. Social psychology provides a conceptualization of a number of varieties of trust – moralistic, strategic, and generalized – and their opposites that implicitly drive the logic of major works of international relations. It also reveals the empirical presence of a number of different types of trusters who make different assumptions about the trustworthiness of others and consequently show markedly different propensities towards cooperation. The rough correspondence between these different ‘social orientations’ and the logics of the three approaches of structural realism, neoliberal institutionalism, and constructivism suggest that individuals carry a crude paradigm in their minds. Metatheoretically, the implication for international relations theory is that scholars capture a part but not the totality of world politics, the behavior of those who trust (or do not trust) in a particular way that matches the logic of their paradigms. Theoretically it suggests a research agenda at multiple levels of analysis, utilizing all of the types of trust and trusters. I review the work of others that offers some preliminary evidence for its plausibility, suggest some hypotheses of my own, and address potential theoretical objections.

scholarly journals Rethinking human-animal relations: The critical role of social psychology

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 769-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristof Dhont ◽  
Gordon Hodson ◽  
Steve Loughnan ◽  
Catherine E. Amiot
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Social Psychological Research ◽  
Human Animal

People deeply value their social bonds with companion animals, yet routinely devalue other animals, considering them mere commodities to satisfy human interests and desires. Despite the inherently social and intergroup nature of these complexities, social psychology is long overdue in integrating human-animal relations in its theoretical frameworks. The present body of work brings together social psychological research advancing our understanding of: 1) the factors shaping our perceptions and thinking about animals as social groups, 2) the complexities involved in valuing (caring) and devaluing (exploiting) animals, and 3) the implications and importance of human-animal relations for human intergroup relations. In this article, we survey the diversity of research paradigms and theoretical frameworks developed within the intergroup relations literature that are relevant, perchance critical, to the study of human-animal relations. Furthermore, we highlight how understanding and rethinking human-animal relations will eventually lead to a more comprehensive understanding of many human intergroup phenomena.

scholarly journals Prejudice reduction, collective action, and then what?

2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 425-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Abrams ◽  
Milica Vasiljevic ◽  
Hazel M. Wardrop
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Prejudice Reduction ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Potential Conflict ◽  
Conflict Escalation ◽  
Multiple Levels

AbstractDespite downsides, it must, on balance, be good to reduce prejudice. Despite upsides, collective action can also have destructive outcomes. Improving intergroup relations requires multiple levels of analysis involving a broader approach to prejudice reduction, awareness of potential conflict escalation, development of intergroup understanding, and promotion of a wider human rights perspective.

Good in Theory: A Metatheoretical Review of Social Psychological Theories of Human Sexuality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Quistberg ◽  
John Kitchener Sakaluk
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Human Sexuality ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Current State ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
Sexual Science ◽  
Psychology Theory ◽  
Theory Generation ◽  
Future Theory

The fields of social psychology and sexual science have an intuitive and growing connection, with social psychology’s tradition of theory generation poised to enrich the psychological study of the sexual. For those interested in applying social psychological theories to topics of sexuality, however, there are questions regarding the features, qualities, and strengths and weaknesses of social psychology’s theoretical offerings. We therefore conducted a comprehensive metatheoretical review of social psychology theories applicable to sexuality (n = 44). In doing so, we (i)promote a deeper understanding of the current state of social psychology theory (ii)provide original theory maps to streamline future theory testing (iii)evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of current social psychology theories. Our review finds existing social psychology theory to present a range of clarity with regards to theory definition, theory applicability, and testability. We interpret our results as encouragement for the pursuit of contemporary methods of theorizing in social psychology.

Narrative Approaches within a Social Psychology of Social Justice: The Potential Utility of Narrative Evidence

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Frost
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Narrative Research ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Narrative Approaches ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Social Psychological Research

This chapter illustrates the utility of narrative approaches within the social psychological study of social justice. By providing an overview of narrative approaches within social psychology, the potential for narrative research to generate knowledge of interest to social justice researchers is highlighted. In efforts to further promote the utility of narrative approaches in social justice research, the concept of narrative evidence is introduced in order to encourage the translation of knowledge gained from social psychological research on social justice concerns into attempts to inform and provoke social change. An illustrative example is discussed drawn from the author’s own research. The work of translating narrative research findings into narrative evidence is an important next step within a social psychology of social justice that seeks to produce knowledge of social justice concerns and has the potential to inform and inspire social change efforts.

On Emotion In Sport: Theoretical and Social Psychological Perspectives

1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Vallerand
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Comprehensive Theory ◽  
Cognitive Theories ◽  
Antecedents And Consequences

This paper presents and critically assesses four major cognitive theories of emotion. Theories were selected on the basis of their pertinence to a social psychological study of emotion in sport. Four cognitive theories of emotion by Schachter (1964), Lazarus (1966), Arnold (1960), and Weiner (1981) were reviewed. Strengths and weaknesses of these theories were examined. Cognitive theories of emotion were also shown to be amenable to theoretical research in sport. It was suggested that a comprehensive theory of emotion in sport should incorporate aspects of different cognitive theories of emotion thus leading to a better understanding and prediction of emotion in sport settings. Such a comprehensive theory, however, must await future research. Issues for a social psychology of emotion in sport were formulated. It was argued that emotion research in sport should be incorporated within a social psychological framework. To this end it was suggested that a better understanding of the antecedents and consequences of affect is needed in order to fully understand emotion as experienced by sport participants.

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